Orthopedic table



Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES ORTHOPEDIC TABLE William L. Bell, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Gilbert Hyde Chick, Oakland, Calif.

Application February 14, 1936, Serial No. 63,937

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in orthopedic tables and more particularly to perineal bars therefore. The present improvement is particularly applicable to structures disclosed in my copending application for patent filed October 28, 1935 entitled Orthopedic apparatus and bearing Serial Number 47,066. Also my Patent Number 1,569,350, dated January 12, 1926, entitled Operating table.

It is an object of the present invention to support a human body in such a manner that it may be subjected to X-ray examination at various angles without intervening supporting means im penetrable to X-rays.

Another object is to subject the human body to stresses for the restoration or correction of fractures or maladjustments while permitting free accessibility to the body by the operators for the purpose of fluoroscopic examination, photography, and the application of plaster casts or other corrective measures.

A particular object is to provide for the support of the patients body in a position lateral to the longitudinal axis of the operating table and to position the perineal post with respect to the adjusted position of the patient supporting means.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

The X-ray is a very important adjunct in modern orthopedic, surgical and therapeutic practice. Heretofore surgical tables have not given the necessary freedom of access to the body of the patient, with a sufficient range of angularity to meet all requirements. In orthopedic practice, especially in reducing skeletal fractures, it is essential that the operator know at all times, by fluoroscope or photography, the exact condition of the bone structure buried beneath the intervening tissue, free from extraneous shadows cast by contiguous apparatus. It is equally important that tractive and other accessories be attached to the table frame in such a manner that corrective stresses can be applied to the limbs of the patient at a full range of angles not limited by any inadequacy of the apparatus.

In the present invention any articulated member of the human skeletal structure can be subjected to traction or compression by placing the patient or the accessories in appropriate relative positions in the apparatus.

In this specification and the accompanying drawings the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. It is to be understood, however, that it is not limited to this form because it may be embodied in other forms within the purview of the claims following the description.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an orthopedic table constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, the supporting fabric strip being partially broken away to better disclose the underlying structure.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in side elevation of the clamping means for the perineal post mounting.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of a modified form of orthopedic table having a sacrum plate combined with the perineal post.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in vertical section of the same.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawing referring first to Fig. 2, comprises an open frame having the side bars I and 2 joined by the cross struts 3 and 4 spaced inward from the ends of the side bars to which they are welded or rigidly fixed. The bars I and 2 are preferably formed of steel flats either solid or tubular stock about x 1%" and 7 feet long.

The frame is supported upon the four legs 5. 5 and 6, 6 fixed to their respective struts 3 and 4 and to the cross bars l and 8 mounted upon the rollers 9, 9 and l0, l0 providing trucks at the opposite ends of the frame. The frame may be leveled and adjusted as to height by the screw spindles II, II and l2, l2 on the trucks.

Two pairs of standards l3, l3 and l4, M are fixed in sockets at the four ends of the side bars I. and 2 respectively. The slotted windlasses l5 and I6 extend between these standards l3, l3 and [4, M respectively. The Windlasses are provided with the Winding handles I? and I8 and ratchet mechanisms as at l9, 3!! to prevent the windlasses unwinding, see also Fig. 1.

Both windlasses are slotted lengthwise as at 2| and 22 to receive the opposite ends of the relatively narrow fabric strip 23. The opposite ends of this strip are reeved through their respective slots 2| and 22 of the windlasses. When the handles l1 and I8 are turned the strip is drawn taut by the windlasses' and held so by the ratchet means l9 and 26. The strip 23 being narrow, and the slots 2| and 22 being long, the strip can be placed in any longitudinal position with re- 50 spect to the width of the frame. This choice of position is a great advantage in placing the patient in the position best suited for examination and operation.

The vertically adjustable tables 24, 25 and 26 supported by the side bars I and 2 are adopted to give lateral stability to the torso of the patient resting upon the strip 23, and add to his comfort when operative technique will permit.

The side spar 21 is vertically pivoted at 28, in the bracket 29 slidably adjustable on the side bar 2, and fixed in any radial position by the clamping means 30. The support 3| is fixed in the bracket 32 adjustably slidable on the spar 21.

The traction unit 28 is pivotal and vertically adjustable on a stem telescoping within the support tube 3|. The traction unit has the foot rest 28 and other accessories adapted to be fixed to the foot of the patient for the purpose of applying tractive elongation stresses to the leg or arm of the patient when the handle 33, is turned to rotate a threaded spindle concealed in the traction unit 28 and threaded in the plunger 34. The combinative elements of the traction unit permit the unit to adjust itself to any rotative or bending positions that articulations of the patients limb will permit. For further particulars see my copending application filed October 28, 1935 and bearing Serial Number 47,066 in this class. The spar mechanism 21 and the assembled traction unit can be duplicated upon the opposite bar I, if and when required.

Since the tractive efiorts above described must be opposed by anchoring the patients body in a fixed position relative to the frame of the table the perineal post 35, extending upward through a slot in the strip 23, is provided, see Figs. 1 and 5. This post is preferably composed of wood or any suitable material that the X-ray can penetrate without casting an appreciable shadow.

This bar 35 telescopes within the tubular socket 36 wherein it is frictionally held. This socket in turn frictionally engages any of the holes 31, 38 or 39 in the beam 40. This beam is of any suitable material such as wood having the X-ray characteristics of the post 35.

The beam 40 is pivoted at 4| on the cross bar 42 fixed between the side bars I and 2. Its opposite end is split, see Fig. 3, and straddles the strut 3 to which it is clamped in any desired position by the bolt 43 and hand wheel 44.

The perineal post 35 is padded and set within the crotch or perineum of the patient, to take the stress applied by the traction unit 28. The holes 31-39 permit placement with respect to length of the patients limb. By swinging the beam 40 on the pivot GI and looking it by the clamp 42-43, the post 35 can be located in the desired position as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2.

Should it be desirable to omit the strip 23, the sacrum plate 45 resting upon the tubular socket 36, in conjunction with the tables 2425 will support the torso of the patient.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An orthopedic table including a relatively narrow, taut, flexible strip, suspended above said table; a horizontal beam on a vertical pivot on said table, and having a perineal post in operative relation to said strip.

2. An orthopedic table including a frame having side bars; a relatively narrow taut flexible strip suspended above said frame; a horizontal beam on a vertical pivot intermediate said side bars and having a perineal post in operative relation to said strip.

3. An orthopedic table including a frame having side bars joined by end struts; means for supporting a human body above said frame; a crossbar extending between said side bars and having a vertical pivot thereon; a beam swung on said pivot and having a perineal post in operative relation to said supporting means; and clamping means on said beam engaging one of said struts.

4. An orthopedic table including a frame; a relatively narrow, taut, body supporting strip, capable of being arranged lateral to the longitudinal center of said frame; a horizontal beam swung on a vertical pivot intermediate the sides of said frame and having a perineal post thereon; and means for holding said post relative to said strip.

WILLIAM L. BELL. 

